Friday, July 29, 2016

"This is Not Human"

"Here, the day begins early.
Since the weather is really hot, people became used to get up before dawn. But
many students wake up even earlier, because they have to walk long distances to
go to school. Their main motivation is to get a free meal, which for many is
the only meal they have throughout the all day.

Our workday started with
a discussion about the living conditions of the Chokwe community. Sister Alice,
head of the school, told us about the situation of a family living in very
precarious conditions, saying they were one of the poorest families in the
region. We decided to visit the place where they live.

Today we saw extreme
poverty. It was a "home", about 6 square meters, built with tree
branches, stones, rags and mud. It had no door and was completely exposed to
the surrounding dangers. Five children live there, two of them were really
young. These children are orphans and their grandfather is the person who takes
care of them. He is quite old and sick and the space is so short that he has to
live in a tent right next to the house.

We told him we would
make every effort to help them. First, we hope to transfer the kids to a school
closer to their home. They take 2 hours to go to their current school but they
have one much nearer to their home.

To experience the living conditions of these children
was shocking. We find it unacceptable that someone is living under these
conditions."